LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A group of Hardin County students got quite the surprise Friday during a trip to Louisville.
They spent the morning loading hundreds of care packages for cancer patients into sheriff's deputy squad cars, bound for UofL Health's Brown Cancer Center. But they had no idea someone else was headed there, too.
"Three of my students came up with the idea in December, a generic idea for cancer patients and it took off from there," Richard Rowland, a teacher at James Alton Middle School said.
The whole school pitched in, collecting 3,100 items, from blankets, to body wash, and coloring books for kids, and so much more. In all, totaling more than 600 care packages.
"For a two-week drive, that's impressive," Rowland said.
"We loaded them all up this morning and headed up I-65," Lt. Tim Thomas, with Hardin County Sheriff's Office said.
They were on a mission. Coleman's Mission.
"Two of my students found the article I believe you all did on the Lt. Governor and they took that and said, we want to name it Coleman's Mission," Rowland said.
Days into the new year, Kentucky's Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman revealed she underwent a double mastectomy after doctors shared concern with a recent mammogram.
"Whenever we saw what she was going through, we figured we should do this drive to help other cancer patients and families in this community to be more comforted going through what they were going through," Liam McIntyre, an 8th grader at Alton Middle said.
"It just shows that even someone that is as public about her story as she is can still get through it and be brave," Kailey Grant, an 8th grader at Alton Middle said.
As inspired as they were by her story, she was just as moved by theirs.
"I wanted to surprise them and show up today to say thank you," Coleman said.
In a room filled with dozens of students, their enthusiasm was contagious. And then, Coleman walked through the door.
"I hear we've got something pretty cool here," she said, smiling at everyone.
"I didn't know it was her at first, and then I realized who it was and my mind just scattered," McIntyre said.
Coleman walked around the room, talking to students about the contents of their boxes, which included some of her daughter's favorites from Gabby's Dollhouse and Peppa Pig.
"It felt like it really paid off, and got me for a second because it felt magical that the person we were doing this in honor of was there in front of me, and I got to talk to her, and I got the chance to personally thank her," McIntyre said.
Coleman's visit wasn't the only surprise.
"These kids have done a lot of great work and it's important we celebrate the adults that help make that possible. And as you know the highest honor you can receive in Kentucky is to be named a Kentucky Colonel," Coleman said.
On behalf of the governor, she awarded the title to Mr. Rowland.
"That is something I didn't expect and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart," Rowland said.
It hits close to home for Rowland who spearheaded the project. He lost his dad to cancer last year to esophageal cancer and myeloma.
"He was a Kentucky State Police sergeant for 28 years and his heart was in Kentucky. I think somewhere he's smiling, knowing my kids were able to accomplish this," Rowland said.
"Just the fact that middle school students would be this thoughtful for people they may never meet," Coleman said. "It's such an important thing that might seem small, but it's a reminder people care."
Before she left, Coleman said she wouldn't be upset if Coleman's Mission became an annual campaign.
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